The Camden Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) met on Wednesday 22 October 2025 to discuss a range of issues, including Religious Education (RE) in schools, collective worship, and interfaith initiatives. The meeting included updates on the NASACRE/Westhill Grant, Inter Faith Week, and Camden SACRE priorities for 2025-26. Councillors were also scheduled to look at Camden's RE newsletter and network.

Camden SACRE Priorities 2025-26

The Camden SACRE was scheduled to discuss its priorities for 2025-26. The priorities document is a working document that is reviewed and updated at each SACRE meeting. Some of the proposed priorities listed in the appendix 1 - Camden SACRE priorities for 2025-26 document included:

• Producing an annual report
• Ensuring the new Agreed Syllabus is accessible to schools
• Maintaining primary and secondary RE networks
• Reviewing membership of SACRE
• Providing Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for SACRE members
• Key Stage 4 support
• SACRE self evaluation toolkit
• Westhill/NASACRE grant application
• Compliance in RE

Camden Religious Education (RE) Newsletter & Networks

The Camden SACRE was scheduled to receive an update on the termly newsletters and meetings held with RE leads in Camden. The cover report - Camden SACRE RE Network Newsletter share noted that details would be provided from the Autumn Term 2025 newsletter and the two meetings with Camden schools held during the Summer Term 2025.

The appendix 1 RE Autmn Term newsletter Camden Learning included information on:

• Upcoming RE network meetings
• The NASACRE/Westhill grant for interfaith work in Camden
• New RE resources and lessons from Oak Academy¹
• Resources for teaching about Islam, Humanism, and women in religion
• Information on Inter Faith Week 2025

The appendix 2 Primary RE Network Meeting 12 June Minutes included details of a masterclass in teaching about Hindu Dharma in the classroom with Nandarane Naina Palmer.

The appendix 3 Secondary RE Network Meeting 17 June Agenda included discussion of:

• National and local updates in RE
• An offer from UK Jewish Film
• The Camden Interfaith Network offer
• Key Stage 3 assessment

NASACRE/Westhill Grant Update

The Camden SACRE was scheduled to receive a verbal update on Camden's success in securing the NASACRE/Westhill grant for 2025/26 and 2026/27. The RE Adviser was expected to outline how plans are developing with schools, the Local Authority, and Camden Learning.

The cover report - NASACRE WESTHILL grant update stated that the NASACRE/Westhill grant was last discussed at the SACRE meeting on 6 February 2025.

Two projects were planned as part of this grant:

1. One-day RE conferences for year 4/5 pupils focusing on interfaith themes.
2. A project to train sixth form students to speak about their beliefs and religious practices in KS1-3 lessons.

Collective Worship in Camden

The Camden SACRE was scheduled to discuss guidance on collective worship for non-denominational schools in Camden. The appendix 1 - Camden SACRE Guidance on Collective Worship April 2023 document provided guidance for Camden schools on the purpose, aims, and legal requirements of Collective Worship². It included practical advice on planning inclusive worship, guidance on applying for or reviewing a Determination³, and suggestions for developing a school policy.

The guidance stated:

The law requires collective worship to be wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character (1996 Education Reform Act). We consider these requirements in Section 5: Legal Requirements (p. 3) and Appendix 1 (p. 4).

Interfaith Week Update

The Camden SACRE was scheduled to receive an update on Inter Faith Week 2025, which will take place from 9th to 16th November 2025.

The appendix 1 - Celebrating Inter Faith Week in Schools information document provided background information and national context on Inter Faith Week 2025, including its aims, theme, and the ways in which SACREs can support and promote engagement across local schools.

The theme for Inter Faith Week 2025 is Community: Together We Serve , highlighting how people of different beliefs contribute to the common good, and how service and social action build bridges of understanding.

Other Business

The agenda also included:

• Election of Chair and Vice-Chair
• Apologies
• Declarations of pecuniary, non-pecuniary and other interests in respect of items on the agenda
• Announcements
• Approval of the minutes of the meeting held on 1 May 2025
• Notification of any items of business that the Chair decides to take as urgent
• Camden SACRE Terms of Reference and Protocol
• Membership of Camden SACRE
• Faith Forum Update
• National Association of SACRE (NASACRE) Updates
• Any other business that the Chair considers urgent
• Future meeting dates